The Wharf by the Docks | Page 9

I got into the way of a beastly accident at Charing
Cross just now. Woman run over--badly hurt. Got myself covered with
blood. Ugh!"
Max was convinced that the shudder was genuine, although he had
doubts--of which he was ashamed--about the tale itself.
And how did that explain the proposed journey?
Dudley went on:
"I've only just got time to change my clothes and make myself decent.
See you in a day or two. Sorry I can't stay and have a pipe with you and
one of our 'hard-times' suppers."
He was on the point of disappearing into the inner room, when Max
stopped him.
"Oh, but you can," said he. "I have something particular to say to you,
and I can wait till you come back, if it's two o'clock, and I can bring in
the supper myself."
Dudley frowned impatiently, and again he cast at Max the horrible,
furtive look which had been his first greeting.

"That's impossible," said he, quickly. "I may have to go on to Liverpool
myself. Good-night."
And he shut himself into the bedroom.
Max felt cold all over. After a few minutes' hesitation, he went out of
the chambers, down the stairs and out of the house.
At the door a cab was waiting. The driver spoke to him the moment he
stepped out on the pavement. Evidently he took him for Dudley, his
late fare.
"The lady's got out an' gone off, sir. I hollered after her, but she
wouldn't wait. Oh, beg pardon, sir," and the man touched his hat,
perceiving his mistake; "I took you for the gentleman I brought here
with the lady."
"Oh, he'll be down in a minute or two," answered Max.
And then he thought he would wait and see what new developments the
disappearance of the lady would lead to. He was getting sick with alarm
about his friend. These instances of the blood-stained clothes, the
possible journey to Liverpool, and the flight of the mysterious lady,
were so suspicious, taken in conjunction with each other, that Max
found it impossible to rest until he knew more. He walked a little way
along the pavement, and then returned slowly in the middle of the road.
He had done this for the third time when Dudley dashed out of the
house with rapid steps, and had reached the step of the hansom before
he discovered that the vehicle was empty.
An exclamation of dismay escaped his lips, and to the cabman's
statement of the lady's disappearance he replied by asking sharply in
which direction she had gone. On receiving the information he wanted,
he gave the man his fare, and walked rapidly away in the direction the
cabman had indicated.
Max followed.

Every moment increased his belief that some appalling circumstance
had occurred by which Dudley's mind had for the time lost its balance.
Every word, look and movement on the part of his friend betrayed the
fact. Now he was evidently setting off in feverish haste in pursuit of
this woman whom he had left in the cab; and Max, who believed that
his friend was on the brink of an attack of the insanity which old Mr.
Wedmore feared, resolved to dog his footsteps, and not to let his friend
go out of his sight until the latter got safely back to his chambers.
Dudley went at a great pace into Holborn, and then he stopped. The
traffic had dwindled down to an occasional hansom and to a thin line of
foot-passengers on the pavements. He looked to right, to left, and then
he turned suddenly and came face to face with Max.
"Hello!" cried he. "Where are you going to? Where are you putting
up?"
"At the Arundel," answered Max, taken aback, and stammering a little.
Dudley had recovered his usual tones.
"Come to my club," said he. "We can get some supper there and have
that pipe."
"But how about Liverpool and the friend you had to see off?" asked
Max.
Dudley hesitated ever so slightly.
"Oh, he's given me the slip," he answered, in a tone which sounded
careless enough. "Gone off without waiting for me. So my conscience
is free on his score."
Max said nothing for a moment. Then he thought himself justified in
setting a trap for his friend.
"Who is he?" asked he. "Anybody I know?"
"No," replied Dudley. "A man I met in the country, who showed me a

good deal of kindness. From Yorkshire. Man named Browning. Very
good fellow, but erratic. Said he'd wait for me in the cab, and
disappeared before I could come down. Had an idea I should make him
lose his train, I suppose. Well, never mind him. Come along."
Max went with him in silence. Dudley had not only got back his